LA SUITE APRÈS LA PUBLICITÉ

The National Biosafety Management Agency – NBMA has ordered an immediate suspension of the registration for four newly developed genetically modified – GM cotton varieties following the discovery of “serious compliance abnormalities.”

Despite their recent registration by the National Committee on Naming, registration and release of crop varieties, the NBMA revealed that these transgenic hybrids—specifically MIC 561 BGII, MIC 563 BGII, BIOSEED-FIYAH CH1001, and BIOSEED-FIYAH CH1002—were processed without the mandatory legal oversight required by the National Biosafety Management Act 2015.

The suspension was triggered after the NBMA’s internal surveillance mechanisms flagged significant procedural irregularities regarding the development of these crops.

Investigations revealed that critical stages of the biotech process, including confined field trials and multi-locational testing, were conducted without prior authorization or inspection from the agency.

Under Nigerian law, no individual or institution is permitted to move a Genetically Modified Organism – GMO from the trial stage to commercial release without explicit, written approval from the NBMA to ensure environmental and human safety.

In a stern statement issued by the agency’s Head of Information and Public Relations, Gloria Ogbaki, the NBMA emphasized that these unauthorized actions constitute a direct violation of national biosafety laws. The registration committee has been directed to halt all further actions on the affected cotton varieties as the agency prepares to invoke regulatory sanctions.

The NBMA maintained that strict adherence to these frameworks is non-negotiable to maintain the integrity of Nigeria’s biotechnology sector and to protect the agricultural ecosystem from unverified genetic materials.

Despite the gravity of the procedural breach, the NBMA has sought to calm public anxiety by clarifying that there is currently no evidence of an immediate risk to human health or the environment. The suspension is primarily a corrective regulatory measure intended to bring the developers back into legal alignment.

The agency has pledged to keep the public informed as investigations continue, reinforcing its role as the ultimate gatekeeper for all biotechnology-related activities within the country.